Display counter apparatus



May 30, 1933. R. L.- MAPSON 7 DI SPLAY COUNTER APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1932 Z-Shee'ts-Sheet 1` V 29 24@ 29 2 sj ll /VVE/VTOB Poster L. mes-au May 30, 1933. R. L. MAPSON 1,911377 DISPLAY COUNTER APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 jo 64 /wf/vroe ?055.674 MRSOA/ Patenta! May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT Iz. mson, OF LOS ANGELS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIBD TO JOHN w. mmm .AND ONE-THIBD TO KABL A. DANIELSON, BOTE QF LOS ANGELES, CALI- roam DISPLAY COUNTER APPARATUS Application filed lay 14, 1932. Serial No. 611.347.

My invention relates to display counters and more particularly to counters which are partitioned into a number of suitable compartments for the display of merchandise.

In the merchandising of small articles such as notions, hardware, small to s and the like, the common practice is to isplay such articles on counters which are provided with compartments suitable in size to accommodate the various articles. One form of display counter which is at present widely used mploys a great number of wooden boxes which are postioned bottom-side-up on the counters. Sheets of glass are vertically supported between adjacent boxes to form the desired compartments of the counter. The boxes are urged into supporting relation with the glass partitions by forcing `strips of cardboard, or the like, betweenouter walls of the counter and the boxes which are positioned adjacent these walls. After wedging a number of rows of these boxes into firm supporting relation with the vertical glass partitions, considerable strain is exerted 'against the outer walls of the counter which often results in tearing these walls loose from the top of the counter. An additional undesirable feature of' this type of construction is that a different sized box is required for each size of compartment, and care must be exercised in placing these boxes on the counters as' each transverse row of boxes must be substantially equal in len h.

An object of my invention is to provi e a simpleflnexpensive apparatus by means of which different sized compartments can be quickly and easily formed on a display counter.

Another object of my invention is to provide suitable compartment orming apparatus for display counters which can be used without changing or adding to the counters which are in use at present.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a compartment forming apparatus for display counters which is selfcontained and one which does not exert abnormal strains upon the counter.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of siuitable means for supporting an auxiliary display tray in elevated 'elation to the display counter of my inven- Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective View of the apparatus of my invention as it appears when set up on a display counter.

F ig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a partition supporting clip of my invention shown in connection with a fragment of one of the pans of my invention.

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of the compartment forming apparatus of my invention.

F igs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating the operation of a portion of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of one of the tray supporting standards shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the spacers included in my invention.

F ig. 9 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the applied position of the spacer shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmen'tary perspective view of a modified tray supporting standard of my invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a compartment forming apparatus 10, comprising a preferred embodiment of my invention, is shown in Fig. 1, this apparatus including a suitable counter 11, a pluralityof inverted pans 12, partitions 13 extending transversely with respect to the counter 11, partition supporting clips 14, longitudinal partitions 15, and auxiliary trays 16.

The counter ll is of conventional design having a suitable base 20, a top 21, end walls 22 and front and back walls 23 and 24, respectively. The walls 22, 23, and 24 are secured to the top 21 and extend above the top to form a shallow rectangular compartment which is coextensive with the area of the to 21. Permanently secured to the inner 4 sidh of the counter walls 22, 23, and,24 by suitable brackets 25 are glass plates 26.

The ans 12, shown in Figs. 2 and`3, are prefera ly formed of one piece'of metal to provide a top 27, end walls 28 and side walls 29. Punched through the to 27 of each of the pans 12 are two rows o slots 30, these rows being positioned parallel and in close proximity with the side walls 29 of the pans 12. The slots 30 are equally sipaced as shown in Fig.'4. At each corner o the pans 12 a slot 31 is provided, 'these slots being postioned at right angles' to the slots 30. It will be 'noted in Fig. 4 that when the pans 12 are spaced apart sufficiently to receive one of the transverse partitions 13 that the distance between the slots 31 of adjacent pans is equal to the space between any two of the slots 30.` The overall length of the pans 12 is slightly less than the distance between the inner surfaces of the front and back walls 23 and 24 of the counter 11 so as to allow the pans to be placed transversely upon the top 21 of the counter.

e transverse partitons 13 are. preferably of glass and are equal in length to the pans 12. The height of the partitions 13 is equal to the height of the pans 12 plus the depth of the compartments to be formed on the upper surfaces of the pans 12, as shown in Fig. 2.

The partition supporting clips 14, shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusve, are formed of sheet metal, each clip being formed from a single piece of metal to provide a pair of horizontal base flanges 35, parallel, vertical walls 36 joined by a semi-circular back wall 37, and depending, parallel hooks 38. The walls 36 are spaced apart sufliciently to firmly receive' the ends of the partitions 13 or 15. The hooks 38 are cut so as to provide points 40 on their lower edges, and open slots 41 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 the loweredges of the slots 41 being slightly inclined to provide cam faces 42. It will distance between the hooks 38 and the clip 14 is equal to the distance between the slots 30 of the pans 12.

The lon'gitudinal partitions 15 are also preferably of glass and are substantially equal in length to the width of the pans 12. The height of the partitions 15 is equal to the depth of the compartments to be formed on the upper surfaces. of the pans 12 as shown in Fig. 2.

The auxiliary tray 16 shown in Fig. 1, and fragmentarily shown in Fig. 10, includes a standard 44 which is formed of one piece o f metal to provide horizontal base flanges 45, depending, parallel hooks 46, vertical parallel walls 47, and a vertical tubular extension 48, which is provided with a vertical slot 50. The standard 44 is dentical be noted that the with the aforedescribed clip 14 with the exception that the standard s rovided with the tubular extension 48. movably secured to the upper end of the tubular extensions 48 of the standards 44 are horizontal tray su porting okes provided at opposte en s thereof with return bent portions 56 shown clearly in Fig. 7. The yokes 55 are centrally provided with downwardly extending pins 57 which fit snugly within the upper end of the standards 44. The standards 44 are adapted 'to support an auxiliary tray 60 in elevated relaton to the display counter,'as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Fi 10, I have shown therein a modified auxiar tray 75 'which includes a standard 76 whic is identical with the standard 44, excepting that a hole 77 is provided on'the tubular extension of the standard 76. Removably secured to the top of the standard 76 is a yoke 78 rovided with a brace 79, the lower en of which is received by the hole 77 in the standard 76. The standards 76 can be used to support the ends of the transverse partitions 13, as shown in Fig. 10, in addition to supportng a tray 80 which is identical with the aforedescr'ibed tray 60.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, I have shown therein a yieldable spacer 64 which includes a vertical back portion 65, a horizontal flange 66, and a return bent portion 67 which extends upwardly from the lower edge of the back the spacer 17 is equal to the heightof one of the pans 12. These spacers are provided for the purpose of taking up any slack that might exist between the end walls 22 of the counter and the pans 12 which lie adjacent these walls. This slack condition oecurs whenever one or more of the transverse partitions 13 is omitted from the assembly for the purpose of providing double-width compartments on the counter 11. The spacers 17 are positioned as shown in Fig. 9, it being noted that the resilient portion, 67 and the back portion exert a continuous pressure against the walls of the adjacent pans 12, and that the space occupied by the s acer 17 is covered over by the horizontal &nge 66 of the spacer 1 7.

The preferred procedure of assembling the apparatus 10 of my invention upon the counter 11 is as follows:

The required number of pans 12 to. cover the top 21 of' the counter 11 are lad transversely across the counter with the tops 27 of the pans uppermost. As it is customary to cover the top of'the counter 11 with sheets of paper, I provide paper sheets which are equal in size to the to s of the pans 12.' These sheets are properly placed upon the pans 12, and the ans are secured together in spaced relation by the end pairs of clips 14, the hooks 38 of which extend l 1,91 i,s77

into the slots 31 of these ans. The manner of applying one of the c ps 14 to a pan 12 to su port a partition 15 s shown in Figs.

shown in Fig. 5, it being noted that the sharp points 40 on the lower edge of the hooks 38 ermit' easy' insertion of the hooks through t e paper. As shown in Fig. 6 the clip 14 is now moved in the direction of the arrow, this causing the cam faces 42 of the hooks 38 to engage the under surface of the top 27 of the pan 12 and the flanges 35 of the clip are drawn into firm contact with paper sheet 70 and the top surface of the an 12. Adjacent pans 12 are adapted to be ocked together by pairs of clips 14 by inserting the hooks 38 thereof into Slots 31 in the same manner as just described for inserting these into Slots 30.

After the adjacent corners of the pans 12 have been thus connected by clips 14 the transverse partitions 13 are inserted between the opposed walls 29 of these pans as shown in F ig. 4. It is clear that the clips` 14 are held in locked relation with the pans 12 by the partitions 13 and 15 due to the contact of the ends of the 'partitions with the back walls 37 of the clips.

The tray supporting standards 44 are adapted to be positioned upon the counter 11 in any desired position by mounting the standards 44 upon the pans 12 in a manner identical with the mounting of the clips 14 on'the pans. After the standards 44 are suitably mounted on the pans 12 the tray supporting yokes' 55 are mounted on' the standards by inserting the pins 57 of the yokes 55 within the upper ends of the standards. The glass tray 60 is positioned on the yokes 55, as shown in Fig. 1, accidental displacement of. the tray GObein prevented by the return bent portion 56 o the yokes 55. used to support longitudinal partitions 15, the partitions being inserted into the slot 50 of the tubular extension 48 and forced downwardly between the vertical walls 47 of the standards 44. A

It is seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive apparatus for forming Compartments on display counters, and that the apparatus of my invention is very flexible and durable and can be assembled'very easily.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a display counter: a plurality of inverted pans placed on the top' of said counter; a plurality of partitions 00 vertically supported between said pans; and

looking ,means engaging said pans, said locking means securng adjacent pans in supporting relation *with said partitions and looking said partitions from removal endwise from between said pans.

If desired, the standards 44 can be 2. In combination with a display counter: a. plurality .of inverted pans on the top of said counter; a lurality of partitions verticallysupported looking means engaging said pans, said locking means securng adjacent pans in suporting relation wth said artitions, said ocking means .being held in ocking engagement with said pans by said partitions.

3. In combination with a display counter: an inverted pan positioned on said counter;

.a partition on said pan; a partition supporting clip provided at each end of sai partition; and looking means on said clips engaging said pan to prevent lateral or vertical'movement of said clips on said pan', said clips being held in said i'nterlocking engagement with said pan by said partition.

4. In combination with a display counter: an inverted pan positioned 'on said' counter, said pan having apertures on the top side between said pans; 'and thereof; a partition on said pan; a partition supporting clip provided at each end of said partition; and looking means on said clips said looking means bein received by said apertures and interlock with said pan in response to relative horizontal movement of said clips and said an, said clips bein held in said interloc 'ng relation by sai' partition when the latter is supported between said clips.

5. In combination with a display counter:

a' plurality of inverted pans placed side-byside on the top of said counter; a plurality of transverse partitions supported between said pans; a plurality of longitudinal partitions supported on top of said pans in transverse 'elation with said transverse partitions; a plurality of clips; and means on said clips engaging with said pans, certain of said clips lockin adjacent pans in supporting relation wit said transverse partitions and certain other of said clips supporting said longitudinal partitions on said pans, all of said clips being held in interlocking engagement wth said pans by contact with the ends of said longitudinal and said transverse partitions.

6. In combination with a display counter: a plurality' of inverted rectangular pans placed side-by-side transversely on the top of said counter, the top surfaces of said pans being provided at each corner thereof with. an aperture, said top surfaces also being provided with rows of equally spaced apertures positioned parallel to and in close proximity with the longer sides of said top sui-faces; transverse partitions supported between said pans; longitudinal partitions supported on the top of said pans in right-" angular relation with said transverse partilongitudinal partitions and a pair of hooks extending downwardly from each of said clips, said hooks being received by suitable pairs of the aforesaid apertures.

7. In a display counter-the combination of: a four-sided metal pan placed bottomside-up on a counter, said pan being provided on its uppermost surface with a 'plurality of equally spaced apertures; a pair of clips; vertical opposed ,walls provided on each of said clips; `a horizontal base provided at the lower edges of said walls; and a pair of depending hooks downstruck from said base, said hooks being adapted to be received 'b"^ a pair of said apertures in said pan, sai clips being locked to said pan by engagement of said hooks with the top of en'gagement with said pans by said partitions..

In ,testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 7 day of May, 1932.

ROBERT L. MAPSON.

said inverted pan, said clips and said pan being adapted to cooperatively support a partition.,

8. In a display counter the combination of: a four-sided metal pan placed bottomsideup on a display counter, said pan being provided on its uppermost surface with a plurality of regularly spaced apertures; a standard perpendicularly supported by said pan; a horizontal base provided on said standard; a pair of depending hooks downstruck :from said base, said hooks being received into interlocking engagement with said pans by a pair of said apertures vertical opposed walls extending upwardly from said base; a post extending upwardly 4 from the top of said walls; and a horizontally disposed yoke removably Secured to the upper end of said post, said standard being adapted to support a partition on said display counter and an elevated tray invertical spaced relation with said display counter.

9. In combinaton with a display counter: a plurality of inverted pans placed on the top of said counter; a plurality of partitions supported between said pans in transverse relation with said counter; a plurality of standards; looking means provided on the lower ends of said standards, said locking means seouring adjacent pans together in supporting relation with said partitions; and means provided on the tops of said standards for supporting a horizontal tray in elevated relation with said counter.

10. In combination with a display counter: a plurality of inverted pans placed on the top of said counter; a plurality of partitions supported between said pans in transverse relation with said counter; a plurality of standards; looking means provided on the lower ends of said standards, said looking means looking adjacent pans together in supporting relation with said partitions; and means provided on the tops of said standards for supporting a horizontal tray in elevated relation with said counter, said standards being held in interlocking 

